PEOPLE are being urged not to swim in open water, such as reservoirs, no matter how hot it gets, writes Jeanna Karcz.
The warning comes from Severn Trent as temperatures soar to more than 30°C and are set to stay that high for the weekend.
The water provider, along with others, wants people to be well aware of the dangers of swimming in reservoirs and other open water settings. Though they may appear calm, these stretches of water may pose hidden threat due to the extremely low temperature of the water, depth, and potential strong currents or machinery bellow the surface. People are also urged to remember that barbecues cannot be used at Severn Trent’s reservoir sites at any time due to their high fire risk in the dry weather.
Ashley Jones, Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Manager at Swim England, said: “This weekend will be the third heatwave of the year already, which means that we will be welcoming more visitors to our sites, and we look forward to seeing them. But we want to make sure everyone keeps safe.
“There are hidden dangers in our reservoirs – it’s extremely cold that can easily lead to shock and drowning and it has strong currents and machinery beneath the surface.
“We take the safety of visitors extremely seriously and we want everyone to enjoy these spaces safely, so please stay out of the water and stay safe.”
Andy Freenan, Group Manager for Prevention at Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “As the warm weather continues, we understand the temptation to cool off in the open water.
“However, the tragic reality is that every year we attend incidents where people have got into difficulty in reservoirs and other bodies of water.
“These environments are not designed for swimming and can be incredibly dangerous, even for strong swimmers.
“We urge everyone to heed the warnings, stay out of the water, and enjoy the sunshine safely from the banks. If you see someone in trouble, stay calm and call 999, try to throw them something to hold onto to keep them afloat until emergency services can arrive, do not enter the water yourself.”
